Tensegrity robot with shape memory alloys springs and related methods

A tensegrity robot comprising:

• a plurality of rods arranged to define a tensegrity structure, each rod comprising a first end and a second end opposing the first end;
• a plurality of rubber band elastic members coupled between adjacent first and second ends of the plurality of rods within the tensegrity structure, each rubber band elastic member having a fixed elastic constant;
• a plurality of shape memory alloy (SMA) springs coupled between adjacent first and second ends of the plurality of rods within the tensegrity structure, the plurality of SMA springs being coupled to each and every of the first and second ends of the plurality of rods;
• and
• a control unit carried by the tensegrity structure and coupled to the plurality of SMA springs and configured to selectively apply a voltage to at least one SMA spring from the plurality of SMA springs to cause the tensegrity structure to move.

A method for making a tensegrity robot, the method comprising:

• positioning a plurality of rods arranged to define a tensegrity structure, each rod comprising a first end and a second end opposing the first end;
• coupling a plurality of fixed elastic members between adjacent first and second ends of the plurality of rods within the tensegrity structure, each fixed elastic member having a fixed elastic constant;
• coupling a plurality of shape memory alloy (SMA) springs between adjacent first and second ends of the plurality of rods within the tensegrity structure;
• and
• coupling a control unit to be carried by the tensegrity structure and to the plurality of SMA springs, the control unit configured to selectively apply a voltage to at least one SMA spring from the plurality of SMA springs to cause the tensegrity structure to move.